OU's Veteran Transfer program awarded state honor

Oakland University’s Veteran Transfer Student Services program has been recognized with the 2011 Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrar and Admissions Officers (MACRAO) Outstanding Transfer Program Award, an honor that recognizes the exceptional services Oakland provides to its veteran population. 

A dedicated team of staff from several university offices has worked to implement initiatives designed to assist more than 300 military veterans who attend OU, many of which are transfer students.

“I am extremely honored that OU has received this award,” said Steve Shablin, OU's registrar. “This is great recognition for the work that professionals in the Registrar’s Office, Student Affairs, Veteran Support Services, Undergraduate Admissions and advisers do to provide excellent service to our active service members, veterans and their dependents.”

For three consecutive years, Oakland has been named a “Military Friendly School” by “G.I. Jobs” magazine, an honor reserved for the top 15 percent of all colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide. OU is also a charter member of the Michigan Educators Veterans Support Consortium and participates in numerous veterans support programs across the state and nation. 

 
In addition, OU veterans have access to priority registration and are provided with red, white and blue honor cords at graduation. This year, the university reinstituted evaluation of veterans’ transcripts based on American Council on Education (ACE) guidelines, a process that provides transfer credit recommendations to military personnel. Service members can receive credit for courses taken as part of military training.

“The course content must be similar to those for which OU normally grants transfer credit, and the head of the appropriate academic unit must approve the granting of transfer credit,” Shablin explained. “As long as the courses meet these requirements, transfer credit will be awarded.”

The award will be presented at this year’s MACRAO conference luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 3 at The Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Mich.

To learn more about veterans services at OU, view the website or e-mail veterans@oakland.edu.